Free gunnery trainer



Sgpt. 5, 1950 M" am Filed Nov. 15, 1945 A. J. RUIZ ET AL 2,520,964

FREE GUNNERY TRAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "IIII lnvemars Alfonso 1 Ruiz Eugene J Kup/ac/r Attorney Sept. 5, 1950 A. J. RUIZ ET AL 2,520,964

FREE GUNNERY TRAINER Filed Nov, 15, 1945 S Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors Alfonso J Ruiz Eugene J. Kupjac/r 5y KW W ,dfiarney Sept. 5, 1950 A. J. RUIZ ET AL 2,520,964

FREE GUNNERY TRAINER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I0 I! will 9 I9 /4 /5 i 6' a /5 ml 8 I I I F y 25 48 5 27 E Q f 28 Inventors A/fonso J Ruiz E age/7e J. Kup/ac/r Af/arney P 1950 A. J. RUIZ ET AL 2,520,964

FREE GUNNERY TRAINER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

95 I Fig. 5

-"97 Inventors I X l "/00 Alfonso J Ruiz 7 99 Eugene J Kup/ack KKW W Attorney Sept. 5, 1950 A. J. RUIZ ET AL 2,520,964

FREE GUNNERY TRAINER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 7

lnveniors Alfona J Ruiz .Eugene J Kupjac/r B) Affornay Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREE GUNNERY TRAINER Alfonso J. Ruiz, Corpus Christi, Tex., and Eugene J. Kupjack, United States Navy (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) 6 Claims.

This invention. relates to amusement or training devices wherein a movable gun is operated to simulate firing at a moving target.

It is the object of our invention to provide an improved gunnery device wherein a simulated firearm is mounted for free rotational movement in azimuth and elevation, there being a target movable in a vertical path and in a horizontal path or combinations thereof, with means to indicate when hits have been made upon the target.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig, 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the gun and platform or cabinet therefor;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is, a front view, partly in section, of the cabinet housing the target and the mechanism therefor;

Fig.5 is a side view, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the target and its path and showing the guns position when properly aimed to register a hit;

Fig. 7 i a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of gears for driving the target about the vertical axis;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 showing the sliding keying connection between the vertical drive shaft and the cross aim drive gear;

Fig. 10 is a partial top plan View of a part of the apparatus for establishing the deflection to be used by the gunner; and

Fig. 11 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line i iI l of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown in Fig. 1, a gun IZI is mounted for rotation about horizontal and vertical axes upon a cabinet !22. The gun simulates in appearance an airplane type free gun. Spaced a few feet away from the gun and cabinet I22 is a target cabinet 523 having an opening I24 through which the moving target is visible to the firing of the gun. No bullets are fired by the gun, its operation and hit recording mechanism being electrical, and. a conduit H35 between the cabinets E22 and 523 houses the electrical cables connecting the elements of the electrical circuit elements in the two cabinets.

The gun is mounted on a pivot pin i25 between 2 the legs of a bracket I31 on a yoke 63, so that the gun can be swung about a horizontal axis. A half-circular gear 69 is mounted so as to rotate with the gun about the pin I25.

The yoke 63 is carried by a vertical post rotatable on its axis which is supported by a bearing in a flange 8'! on the bottom wall I26 of the cabinet. A similar flange and bearing 69 supports the post 65 at the top wall of the cabinet. Above the top wall of the cabinet the post 65 passes through a stationary hollow standard 66 which is affixed to the top wall by a flange 6'! and has a bearing assembly 64 at the top thereof.

An upright casting 2c is mounted upon a horizontal partition 34 within the target cabinet I23. Adjacent its upper end it has a pair of vertically spaced jaws which provide supports 8 and 22 for a rotatable and vertically reciprocable drive shaft 56. On the upper end of shaft 56 is mounted a horizontal arm 5 which carries a collar 4 on one end and an adjustable counterweight 6 on the other end. A vertical target support rod 2 is adiustably positioned within the collar 4 by the set screw 3, and at its upper end it carries a target I which is in the form of an airplane.

A drive gear I2 is mounted on the drive shaft 56 between the jaws of the casting 29, there being bearings 9 and I! above and below the gear. Another bearing I is located at the top of the support 8. As shown in Fig. 9 the gear I2 has a sliding keyed connection to the shaft 56 by means of a pair of balls I27 and I28 which are seated to about half their diameter in recesses in the gear I2 and protrude into a longitudinal keyway I29 on the surface of the shaft. This permits the gear I2 to impart a rotary motion to shaft 56 while a rotating cam 26 which is driven by a motor and reduction gear 23 imparts a reciprocating vertical movement to shaft 56. The bottom of shaft 55 is provided with a retainer 25 for a ball bearing 8 which rides on the cam 26. Thus the shaft 56 is raised by the cam, and falls by its own Weight, although it is to be understood that a spring or other means may be used to make the bearing i8 contact the cam continuously.

Retaining plates I4 and I6 are suitably fastened to the casting 20 and provide mountings for a train of gears I0, I2, I3 and I5, and for a drive motor and reduction gear II, as well as for a bracket I 8 which holds a synchronous generator I9 for electrically operating a synchronous motor repeater. Gear I0 is directly mounted on the reduction gear outlet and rotates the drive gear I2. The synchronousgenerator I9 is driven in the same direction and at the same speed as the shaft 56 by means of the directly mounted gear I5 Which is driven from gear I2 through the idler gear I3. Thus the drive motor and reduction gear I I causes shaft 56 to rotate and the target I to follow the circular path shown in Fig. 6. The motor and reduction gear 23 causes the shaft 56 and target to move up and down while it is moving through the circular path. The operator moves the gun I2! to follow the flight of the target and pushes the trigger 51 when he thinks he can register a hit. Mechanism to be described is actuated when the trigger is depressed to indicate the number of shots fired, and the number of hits made.

The hit registering mechanism is responsive to movements of the gun I2I both in azimuth and elevation, and simultaneously responsive to movements of the target, both in its circular .path and in its up and down movement, so that if the gun is correctly aligned with the target at the time the trigger 51 is pushed, an electrical circuit is closed to operate a hit indicator. Another indicator is responsive to the pushing of the switch 51 to indicate the number of shots fired. Means are incorporated so that the gunner must provide the proper lead when firing in order to register a hit.

As previously described, the synchronous generator I9 rotates in the same direction and at the same speed as the shaft 56 and target I. Mounted on a bracket 86 on the bottom Wall I26 of the gun cabinet I22 is a synchronous repeater 84 electrically connected with generator I9, and

the repeater has attached for rotation therewith an insulating disc 82 which has a peripheral recess around its upper edge to accommodate a contactor ring 8 I. The contactor ring has a sliding frictional fit in the recess so that it can be angularly shifted with respect to the insulating disc 82. As shown in Fig. 10, the top of disc 82 has an index mark 83 which is read against a mile per hour scale on the top of the contactor ring. The sliding friction fit permits the disc and ring to be angularly shifted with respect to each other so that the mark 83 can be set at any desired point on the mile per hour scale. A contact I92 projects above the top of the ring BI at the zero point on the mile per hour scale, and moves with the ring if it is shifted with respect to the disc 82.

An arm I9 of conducting material is attached to the movable gun post 65 by means of a bracket 80, so that it is suspended horizontally over the disc and ring for electrical engagement with the contact I02 as the ring 8| rotates with the repeater 86 and the target I. The arm is moved in a horizontal plane as the gun post 65 is rotated back and forth by the operator of the gun IZI. The arrangement is such that if the gun is correctly pointed in azimuth at the target, electrical contact between contact I02 and arm 19 will be established. It will be seen that if deflection is not considered the ring 8! should be set so that the index mark 83 is opposite the zero mark on the mile per hour scale, which point is where the contact I92 is located. It will also be seen that if it is desired to assume a target speed of 100 miles per hourand for the gunner to have to take a corresponding lead when firing, then the ring 8! is shifted so that the index mark is opposite the IOO'mile per hour mark on the scale. Then the electrical contact between the arm I9 and contact I82 will occur only if the gunner is applying the proper lead when firing as illustrated in Fig. 6. The speed of the motor and reduction gear should be correspondingly increased, as will be undersood, although the lead to be used by the gunner is determined by the relative setting of the index mark 83 and the mile per hour scale.

The mechanism for further completing the hit registering mechanism when the gun is properly raised or lowered in elevation will now be described. A synchronous generator 27 which is mounted on a bracket 28 is coupled for rotation with the cam 26 which moves the drive shaft 56 vertically. The bracket is attached to a support 29 on the partition 34 in the target cabinet I23, the motor and reduction gear 23 also being mounted on the same partition by a support 24. A synchronous repeater 83 rotatable about a horizontal axis, is mounted on a bracket 89 which is fastened to the bottom wall I26 of the gun cabinet I22, and being electrically coupled with the synchronous generator 2'5, it rotates with the cam 26. Mounted on the gun yoke 63 by a bracket BI is an elevation synchronous generator 62 having a horizontal axis. A pinion gear I04 which engages and is driven by the half circular gear 6!], is mounted on a shaft I30 which is an extension of the shaft of generator 62. Thus as the gun I2I is moved up and down by the operator in aiming at the target, the generator 62 will be given an oscillatory rotary motion. A synchronous repeater -99 which is mounted on a bracket It! so as to be coaxial with the repeater 88, is electrically coupled to the generator 62, thereby following the rotary oscillations of the gun I2I.

Mounted on the wall I25 between the repeaters 88 and 99 are a pair of spaced and parallel vertical plates 94 and 95. The plates and elements attached thereto are similar so that the side view of Fig. 11 represents a view in either direction along the section line II--II of Fig. 2, although the parts actually shown in Fig. 11 are those looking in the direction of the arrows on the line IIII of Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 11 the plates at and 95 are held in spaced parallel arrangement by spacing stays I SI and I32, The plates have vertical grooves I33 therethrough which accommodate and guide the pins upon which cam follower rollers SI and 9! are mounted.

Cams and It!!! comprise circular discs which are mounted off center on shaft extensions of the repeaters 83 and 99, thereby rotating with the repeaters. During their rotation the cams 9i! and I90 contact the cam follower rollers 9| and S! to raise or lower them. Contacts 93 and 98 on the ends of the pins which mount the rollers SI and 91 will contact each other to make an electrical circuit when the rollers SI and 97 are at the same height, in accordance with the angular positions of the cams 9E! and IE0. Suitable elongated members 92 and 96 alongside the grooves I33 serve as commutators making continuous electrical contact with the vertically reciprocating contacts 93 and 98 by engaging the pins upon which the cam follower rollers and contacts are mounted.

The cam 90 is shaped similarly to the cam 26 and keeps the same angular position as cam 26 by means of the generator 2! and repeater 88 which are electrically coupled. Thus the elevation of the contact 98 corresponds to the elevation of the target at any instant. By means of gear 50, pinion I04, generator 62, repeater 99 and cam Hill, the elevation of contact 93 represents the angle of elevation of the gun I2! at any instant and when the gun is properly elevated to 5. correspond to the elevation at which the target is at any instant, the contacts 93 and 98 engage to further complete the circuit which is partly completed when contacts I02 and I9 engage.

Means are provided for indicating the number of rounds fired by the gun, and the number of hits made, these means being shown in Figs. 4 and 5 as a pair of transparent rotary discs 42 and 55 each having a series of numbers adjacent its periphery as shown. The disc 42 is part of the mechanism which indicates the number of rounds fired and which will now be described. A shaft I34 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, the disc 42 being fixed to it at its forward end, and a ratchet wheel 54 being fixed to it at its rear end. A return spring I35 urges counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft I34, such rotation being normally prevented by a pawl I36. The pawl I36 is carried by the armature of a reset solenoid 44 and when the solenoid is not energized the pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 to prevent counter-clockwise rotation thereof. The pawl permits clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 54 when the solenoid 44 is not energized, and when the solenoid is energized its armature pulls the pawl I36 downward and away from the ratchet wheel to permit it to return to its zero position under the influence of spring I35. A pin I39 on the disc 42 engages a fixed stop and switch I42 to limit the counterclockwise rotation of the disc and latch wheel when the solenoid 44 is energized. When the pin I39 hits the switch I42 it opens the circuit to a lamp 53.

A pawl I40 is carried by the armature I4I of a solenoid 43 and is so positioned as to be normally out of the path of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 54. When the solenoid is energized however, its armature moves downwardly and the pawl I40 moves into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet wheel to rotate the wheel clockwise through an angle equal to that between a pair of adjacent numbers on the periphery of the disc 42. When the solenoid 43 is deenergized its armature moves upward again and the pawl I40 slides over the teeth on wheel 54 until it moves out of engagement with them. In the illustrated embodiment there are 40 numbers on the periphery of the disc 42 and after the disc has been advanced 40 times by the energization of the solenoid 43 the pin I39 on the disc engages the stop and switch I38 to open the switch and prevent further clockwise rotation.

The numbers on the periphery of the transparent disc 42 are opaque, and an optical system including the lamp 53 and a pair of lenses 45 and 46 are in axial alignment with a translucent or ground glass screen 2I in the front wall of the target cabinet 23. As the disc 42 is rotated by the energization of the solenoid 43 the numbers on its periphery successively pass between the lenses 45 and 4B and the image of each number is projected onto and visible on the screen 2!. At the start of an operation when the pin I39 is adjacent the switch I42 the number 0 appears on the screen. When the disc has been rotated until the pin I39 engages the switch I33 the number 40 is visible on the screen 2i. As previously described, the energization of solenoid 44 will pull the pawl I36 away from the teeth on the ratchet wheel 54 and allow it to return to its zero position. The circuit which causes the energization of the solenoid 43 to advance the disc 42 upon pressing the trigger 51 is shown in Fig. 7 and will be explained later.

A second system to indicate the number of hits made is similar to the one which indicates the number of rounds fired. The second system is shown in Fig. 4 and is identical to the rounds fired indicating system except that the arrangement of the parts is reversed as shown, so that the transparent disc 55 rotates counter-clockwise as each hit is made, and rotates clockwise to zero position. Since the structure is otherwise the same as the rounds fired indicating system no further description is necessary except to point out that solenoid 38 advances the disc by means of pawl 33 acting upon latch wheel 47 and return spring 52 returns the disc when the wheel 41 is released by the pawl 59 carried by the armature of the solenoid 35. The stops which limit the rotation of disc 55 are not shown, but they are in the same respective locations as with respect to disc 42 and do not include electrical switches. A lens 35 of the projection system is also shown and a lamp I43 is shown in the wiring diagram in Fig. 7.

It will be understood from the wiring diagram of Fig. 7 and from previous explanation, that the solenoid 38 which advances the hits scored indicator disc 55 will only be actuated when the trigger 51 is pushed to close a trigger switch 58, and the gun is properly pointed so that arm 19 and contact I02 and the two contacts 93 and 98 are simultaneously engaged.

In Fig. 6, the circular path II5 of the target I is shown. The are of the contact arm I9 is shown at H8 and the path of the contact I32 on the contactor ring 8| is shown by the circle I I1. The line II4 represents the line of fire if no deflection is used, as when the index mark 83 on disc 82 is set opposite to the zero mark on the miles per hour scale on the contactor ring BI. However, if the contactor ring is shifted so that the index mark is opposite to say 150 miles per hour on the mile per hour scale, then H2 represents the defiection or lead angle that the gunner will have to use when the target is at the point shown in Fig. 6, line II3 representing the line of fire, and point I20 representing the point when the target would theoretically be when the bullet would reach it. With the index mark 83 still set at the same point on th mile per hour scale, it will be apparent that if the target were at the point I20 at the time of firing, the deflection or lead angle I I2 would be largely increased. This is shown by the circular arc II6 which has point I20 as its center, subtending circle H5 at the center of the target at I44 and also at I45. The deflection or lead angle then would be I 45, which is larger than the angle I I2. It is therefore seen that the apparatus provides a rapidly changing deflection problem to the gunner. By the construction of the apparatus and the speed control of the drive motor i I by a rheostat 'II in its circuit the gunner can be given a high speed deflection problem while the target is moving comparatively slowly. After he has become skilled at solving the deflection problem, the target speed can be increased to that corresponding to the deflection used. A normally closed switch I2 may be placed in the circuit of motor II which may be opened so that proper deflection can be illustrated with the target I stationary at various locations.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 7 shows the electrical circuit by which the apparatus is operated and controlled. The physical location of some of the elements of the circuit are shown in the other figures. As shown in Fig. 7 a main power transformer 3I is connected to a volt alternating current source through a main power fuse Stand a main power switch 32. The secondary of the transformer 3! is tapped to furnish 15 and 21 volts, the 15 and 21 volt taps furnishing a '6 volt supply for the projector lamps 53 and t3 and the filament oi a gas tetrode type 2055 grid-controlled rectifier tube l -i. All of the synchronous generators l9, 2? and 62, and the synchronous repeaters 84, 88 and as are operated from the 15 volt tap on the transformer through a main power relay 6G. The series wound drive motor H operates on 110 volts through relay i8 and has the rheostat H in its circuit to vary its speed. A reduction gear on motor l I provides a maximum output speedof 20 R. P. M. and a friction clutch incorporated therein prevents damage to the reduction gear if someone should forcibly rotate the drive shaft 56 by means of the horipontal arm which carries the target I. indicates the theoretical speed of the target. The motor 23 which raises and lowers the target is of the synchronous type, using 110 volts through relay t9 and having a final fixed output speed of 15 R. P. M. through a reduction gear. The solenoids 36, 38, 43 and 44 for advancing and releasing the discs Q2 and 55 operate at 21 volts through a holding coil 509. The holding coil Hi9 forms its circuit ,through a reset push button 63' and the switch M2 which is opened by the pin i39 on the disc 42. The switch 538 when closed forms the circuit for the main power relay ii).

A vacuum tube "i5 is of the heating and cooling filament type and has a variable control I46 that determines the number of pulses a second. When the operator pushes the trigger 5'! he closes a trigger switch 58 which actuates a relay Hi1. The contacts on the armature of relay Ill thus close the plate circuit of the tube 75 and the pulsing current thereof causes a plate relay 13 to have a pulsing contact which determines the rate of fire of the gun while the trigger is held pushed in and the trigger switch 58 remains closed. A relay 4| which closes the circuit to the solenoid 53 operates from the plate relay is, each pulse thereby causing the disc 42 to advance a notch to indicate another round fired.

A relay 39 closes the circuit to the solenoid 38 which rotates the hit indicating disc 55. The circuit of relay 39 is formed through the plate circuit relay i3 and a relay ms in the plate circuit of the vacuum tube iii. The circuit of the tube '54 is of the sensitive grid type and its grid resistor is shunted by engagement of arm 79 with contact H32, and the simultaneous engagement of contacts 93 and 98. when the gun I2! is properly aligned vertically and horizontally to register a hit. Thus the apparatus is placed in operation by closing the main power switch 32 and pressing the trigger 5i. After firing a number of rounds the operator can reset discs 52 and 55 to zero by closing the switch 68. power relay 4!) is opened by the switch #38 when the maximum permissible number of rounds has been fired.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

We claim:

1. In a gunnery device, a target, means for moving said target through a predetermined path, a gun, means mounting said gun for freedom of movement, a pair of electrical contacts, motive means responsive to the movement of said target for moving one of said contacts, mo-

An indicator Iii on the rheostat control Also the main tive means responsive to the movement of said gun for moving the other of said contacts, and means for initially'adjusting the relative posi-' tions of said contacts so that said contacts engage only when said gun is pointed in proper lead with respect to the target, said adjusting means comprising a member driven by the first-mentioned motive means and another member carrying said one contact and driven by the first-mentioned member, said other member being angularly shiftable with respect to said first-mentioned member.

2. In a gunnery device, a target, a gun, means mounting said gun for freedom of movement, means for moving said target through a' predetermined path independently of the movement of said gun, motive means operable by the movements of said gun and said target, respectively,

means connected to said motive means for indi-,

eating a hit of the target, and means for adjusting said indicating means for actuation only when said gun is pointed in proper lead with respect to the target at the speed set for the target, said adjusting means comprising a pair of drivenly connected members angularly shiftable relative to each other, one of said members being driven by the motive means operable by the target movement and the other of said members being operably connected to said indicating means.

3. In a gunnery device, a target, means for moving said target in a continuous circular path, a simulated gun, means for mounting said gun for freedom of movement, a pair of electrical contacts, motive means connected to said target for moving one of said contacts in accordance with the movement of said target, motive means connected to said gun for moving the other of said contacts in accordance with the movement of said gun, and means for adjusting the initial settings of said contacts to permit engagement therebetween only when said gun is pointed at the proper lead with respect to the target at the speed set for the target, said adjusting means comprising a pair of drivenly connected relatively angularly shiftable members, one of said members being operably connected to said target connected motive means and the other of said members being operably connected to said one contact.

4. The combination according to claim 3, and means for varying the speed of movement of said target.

5. In a gunnery device, a target, means for moving said target in a continuous circular path, a simulated gun, means mounting said gun for freedom of movement, a pair of electrical contacts, motive means connected to said gun for moving one of said contacts in accordance with the movement of said gun, a synchronous generator connected to said target, a synchronous motor energized by said generator and connected to the other of said contacts for moving said other contact in accordance with the movement ofsaid target, and adjustable means for setting the initial relative positions of said contacts, the setting introducing the proper gun sight lead at the speed set for the target.

6. In a gunnery device, a target, means for moving said target through a predetermined path, a freely movable simulated gun, motive means operable by the movements of said gun and said target, respectively, means connected to each of said motive means for indicating a hit of the target, the motive means operable by the movement of said target comprising a generator operably connected to said target and a motor energized by said generator and drivingly connected to said indicating means, and adjustable means for initially setting said indicating means, the initial setting introducing the proper gun sight lead at the speed set for the target whereby said indicating means is actuated only when said gun is pointed in proper lead.

ALFONSO J. RUIZ.

EUGENE J. KUPJACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Karnes Apr. 28, 1931 Kollmayer Aug. 10, 1937 New Jan. 6, 1942 Hooker June 23, 1942 Binks Nov. 30, 1943 Haile Dec. 5, 1944 Jeandron Apr. 10, 1945 Knowles May 1, 1945 Waller et a1. Aug. 27, 1946 

